REDONDO BEACH, Calif. (February 17, 2010) � Portofino Resort & Yacht Club, a waterfront property in Redondo Beach owned and operated by Noble House Hotels & Resorts, has named Rosanna Harrison its new director of catering.

In her new position, Harrison will oversee the resort�s catering department, which can service functions and parties of up to 300. 

�We are proud to have Rosanna on our team,� said Malia Osterbauer, Portofino�s general manager. �She has a proven track record at some of the region�s busiest and most successful hotels; her expertise will be invaluable as we concentrate on raising our level of service for business events, weddings and other functions.� 

Harrison was most recently the director of catering for San Diego-based Evans Hotels, overseeing events and catering for the Catamaran Resort Hotel and Spa. Additionally, she was the director of catering and convention services for the Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina, a 1,044-room convention property with more than 100,000 square feet of meeting space, as well as the senior event manager for JW Marriott Resort & Spa in Palm Desert, a luxury convention, golf and spa resort. With more than 20 years of hospitality industry experience, she has also held catering manager positions at several high-profile Southern California properties, among them Westin Bonaventure Hotel in Los Angeles, Warner Center Marriott Hotel in Woodland Hills, Miramar Sheraton Hotel in Santa Monica and Industry Hills Sheraton Resort in the City of Industry. 

Professionally certified by the National Association of Catering Executives, she is also a Certified Meeting Professional (Convention Liaison Council), as well as a Certified Wedding Planner. She has received numerous industry honors and accolades � among them Catering Sales Manager of the Year � from Marriott, Starwood Hotels and Interstate Hotels, and was named �Member of the Year� for 2008 by the San Diego Chapter of the Asian Business Association. Harrison holds Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees from Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, and also attended Ryde Hospitality School in Sydney, Australia.

ABOUT THE PORTOFINO HOTEL & YACHT CLUB
A haven for business and leisure travelers alike, The Portofino Hotel & Yacht Club is located only seven miles from Los Angeles International Airport, in the beach town of Redondo Beach at King Harbor.  A fixture in Redondo Beach for nearly 50 years, the property � Los Angeles� only waterfront hotel � recently underwent an extensive $11 million renovations of its guestrooms, public and meeting spaces, restaurant (BALEENlosangeles) and 181-slip marina. For more information, call 800-468-4292, e-mail [email protected] or visit www.hotelportofino.com.